RAGBRAI’s just over a week away and Marion County communities are busy piecing together plans. That includes emergency departments. Marion County Emergency Management Coordinator Jeff Anderson says due to the number of people in tents during RAGBRAI’s stay in Knoxville, they are changing their outdoor warning siren system. During that day, sirens will go off for not just tornadoes, but also severe thunderstorms, winds greater than 60 miles per hour, and hail larger than one inch.

Anderson says that riders are staying in various camps and parks in the community, and each one has a designated shelter building that campers will be led to in case of severe weather. He adds they’ll provide plenty of notice to those in Marion County before any weather strikes. Anderson says the most difficult part will be helping those biking the route when weather strikes.